Railway-signal



(No Model.)

J. E. SMITH & F. A. BALLIN.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

No. 344,207. vPatented June 22, 1886.

WZ'Znuses; .j hz s Zars.

4 V J Wm UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

JOHN E. SMITH AND FRED. A. BALLIN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

srzzorrrea'rron forming part of Letters Patent No. 344.20 dated June 22,1886- Serial No. 183,005. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN E. SMITH and FRED. A. BALLIN, of Detroit, inthe county of WVayne and State of Michigan, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Railway-Signals; and we hereby declare that thefollowing V is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in theconstruction and operation of railway night-signals.

Signal lanterns or lamps are usually e011- structed with four faces, thelight inside,when 1n operation, being exhibited through green glass ontwo opposite faces and red glass upon the two remaining opposite faces,and it is usual to secure these lamps to the top of the revolvingtarget. Now, if the operator desires to show a green light to a trainapproachng from one direction and arrest that train, 1n so doing theopposite face of the lamp is presented in the opposite direction, andwould prevent a train coming from that direction. This frequently causesdelaysas, for instance, supposing it is necessary to arrest a train fromthe east at a certain point to allow a train from the west to pass suchtrain from the cast at that point. Now, if the operator sets his greenlight to arrest the train from the east, the train from the west is alsoarrested, and both are detained until proper orders are delivered tothem from the train-dispatcher.

The object of this invention is to prevent this unnecessary detention bysupplying the operator with the means of signaling the one train with agreen light in order to arrest it, and with a white light to signal atthe same time the train from the opposite direction, that the engineermay know that he is not required to arrest his train.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of the parts, theircombination and operation, as more fully hereinafter described.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improve ment. Fig. 2 is a plan ofthe same.

In the accompanying drawings,A represents the front wall of astation-house, and B the roof projecting therefrom over the ordinaryplatform by the side of the track. Supported at the outer extremity ofthe roof, or in such other position as to be readily seen from bothdirections on the track, is secured the f ramework or box 0, open atboth ends in the same direction in which the track runs.

D represents two triangular-shaped boxes, each of which is provided withadoor, E, or other suitable means of furnishing access to the interiorthereof, through which the inclosed lamp may receive the necessaryattention.

In each vertical wall of the box D, at the proper point, there is aglassinserted, as shown at F. The glass in one face will be the ordinaryuneolored, upon the next face the glass will be green, and upon the nextit will be red. Each of these boxes D is centrally supported upon thetarget-shaft G, which is secured to the bottom of the frame 0, and theupper ends of such boxes D are provided with pintles a, which furnish asuitable bearing for the revolution of the box D in thetop of the frame(l.

Upon the targetshaft G there is secured a bevel-gear, I), which engageswith a similar gear, 0, upon the horizontal shaft II, which passes tothe interior of the station through the wall A, it being supported insuitable bearings for that purpose.

Upon the end of the shaft H there is secured a ratchet or sprocketwheel, I, and below the same, upon a suitable counter-shaft, J, properlysupported, there is a similar wheel, K, and a suitable sprocket or otherchain, L, passing over and around such two wheels I and K,enabling theopcrator,by means of the crank M, to rotate the box D, carrying thelamp, in order to present either face to the track which he may desire.The counter-shaft J is located in the rear of a dial, N, whilethe crankM is secured outside such dial to the overhanging end of such shaft, asshown in Fig. 1. There being two of these signal-boxcs, they are bothconnected with the interior of the sta tion by means already described,each, however, acting independently of the other. The dials are laid offas shown in Fig. 1, and the whole arrangement of the parts is such thatwhen the crank is over the white part of the dial,or that part which ismarked White,the uncolored front of the box D is presented, the onelooking up the track and the other down the track. Now, if it isnecessary to arrest one train-say from the east-the crank which operatesthe signal looking in that direction is turned, as shown in Fig. 1, overthe green part of the dial, or that which is lettered Green,? when agreen light is presented to the train coming from that direction, and ifit is desired that a train coming from the west should pass such trainfrom the east at that point, the other light, looking in the directionof the west, is presented uncolored; and in order that there may be noconfusion of the lights, a division-wall, R, is located in the frame 0and between the two signal-boxes, which prevents the engineer upon theeastern track from seeing the light presented to the western track.

What we claim as our invention is 1. A pair of railway-signal lampsarranged in a frame common to both with relation to each other, and eachtriangular in form, operating independently of each other, divided fromeach other, and constructed substantially as described.

2. A pair of railwaysignals, each. triangular in form and rotating in aframe common to both, and which is provided with a centraldivision-wall, by means of which each signal does not interfere with theoperation of the other, substantially as specified.

3. A pair of railway-signals, triangular in form, locatedin a framecommon to both, and rotated therein, each independently of the other, bysuitable mechanisms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A railway-signal consisting of a frame having a centraldivision-wall, two triangular signal-boxes located in opposite ends ofsaid frame and on either side of such division-Wall, each of said boxesbeing provided with a taro get-shaft with bevel-gear thereon, two shaftscarrying on one end like bevel-gear, and each communicating by means ofsprocket-wheels and chains with cranks and dials, the parts beingconstructed, arranged, and operating 45 substantially as and for thepurposes described.

JOHN E. SMITH. FRED. A. BALLIN.

Vi tn esses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, EDMOND J. SoULLY.

